SPEECH BY HER EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, SHRIMATI PRATIBHA DEVISINGH PATIL, AT THE INTER UNIVERSITY CULTURAL FESTIVAL

Bodh Gaya, 15 February 2008

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am very happy to be in Bihar, a State that can boast of a proud historical past and a rich cultural heritage. Known as Magadh, with its capital at Patliputra, it was the seat of the great Mauryan and Gupta Empires. It was here that Buddha attained enlightenment, Mahavira was born and attained salvation and Guru Gobind Singh was born. Bihar has also been the centre of learning from the very ancient times. Vikramsila and Nalanda Universities were famous and attracted scholars from afar. Bihar, in essence, represents the great legacy and diversity of India. With such a glorious past as a foundation, we should aim for an even greater future.

I am glad to inaugurate the First Bihar Inter-University Cultural Festival - TARANG, which is being hosted by Magadh University. I would like to congratulate Bihar for this initiative, which fulfils the vision of a University as enunciated by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India and who was from Bihar. He said, "my own view is that a university, besides being a seat of learning, should also be a centre of real cultural activity."

Today, the 12 Universities located in Bihar are participating in TARANG, with its theme - "Music for Harmony and Identity". Music is a part of our cultural ethos. There is hardly any Indian festival, ceremony or ritual in which music does not play a role. The harmony of Svara and Taal creates Indian music. The Jugalbandhi style emphasis creativity and seeks a blending to create harmonious and melodious music. Similarly, Indian music and dance, both classical and folk, Hindustani and Carnatic, have an extra-ordinary variety and yet are uniquely harmonious. Harmony and balance, are thus the very essence of Indian music and dance and indeed, the very basis of the Indian philosophy of life. Life here is sometimes compared to a stringed musical instrument. If the string is too taut it will break, if it is loose it will not produce the desired tune. It is only when the string is properly balanced, that the sound becomes melodious. Harmony has great meaning and relevance for our country, it gives us our identity. Just as we harmonize different notes to produce a tune, the diversity of our people, customs, traditions, and languages unify to produce the one great nation that is India. We must preserve our Indian identity of a multi-cultural, multi-religious, multi-lingual nation that lives in harmony. We must not adopt divisive ideologies or narrow identities. India is a cohesive unit and belongs to all its over a billion people. We have a duty to preserve the unity and oneness of India.

This festival provides an opportunity to the students to demonstrate the diversity of Indian dance and music and it also provides a platform for the display of individual talent. The organization of events like this brings youth from different places and different backgrounds to mingle and learn from each other. This helps in developing better understanding and appreciation of different cultures and communities. The vastness of India's diversity and pluralism is its singular hallmark and the foundation of its unity and integrity. The youth has to recognize and internalize the positive value of India's cultural pluralism. Students must also contribute to the conservation of India's rich cultural heritage and its tradition.

India is an ancient land, which has an age old tradition of learning that is holistic and comprehensive. A University is not merely an institution concerned with the formulation of courses and programmes to meet emerging needs but also has a role to prepare our youth to assume future challenges and responsibilities with patriotic feelings. To prepare a mindset that understand others and helps those in distress and difficulties. Students should not only look at achieving excellence in their studies but they should also look at how they can contribute to society and to the country. They must be able to participate as productive individuals of society and to be honest citizens of the country. They should be committed to social reform and to fight social evils like child marriage, dowry and addiction.

Our Universities, therefore, should be symbols of learning humanism, tolerance and balanced reasoning. It is very important to focus on character building and to inculcate right values in students. The youth should follow the Indian values of truth, tolerance, compassion, family values, harmonious living and respect for elders. Education must develop social awareness otherwise it is unrelated to life and its environment. I would like to stress that educational institutions must help develop a sense of proper discipline in students - by discipline I mean both of body and mind. It is in this respect that cultural activities and sports play a role.

In today's world, science and technology and innovation are the engines of growth and advancement. Research and innovation should be encouraged. This demands that the Universities evolve a culture in which students value and cherish the excitement of researching and learning and they feel motivated and inspired to raise searching questions. Education should be aimed at promoting and encouraging original thinking, an inquisitive approach and an analytical mind. This would generate new perspectives and possibly new solutions for addressing the challenges that we face.

I would like to conclude by calling on the students of Bihar to work for building a strong and modern nation on the foundations of science and technology, our heritage and our age-old values. I am confident that in this endeavour the contribution of Bihar will continue. The world is watching the rise of India as an economic powerhouse and a global player. The youth of the country with their discipline, dedication and commitment would be the architects of a glorious future that awaits India.

Thank You.